Hag Sameach! The Jewish community of Kazakhstan celebrates Pesach. The seder service for Food program clients of Hesed "Polina" was organized in three cafes and five Warm Homes. And here is the way it happened in "Brno" cafe:

  People rejoiced at the opportunity to be together in a single united family, and to observe the tradition.

  The celebration began with lighting candles and congratulations from the oldest and most respected clients. There was a keara and a lot of small plates with necessary seder items: an egg, potatoes, chicken leg, salad, haroset, and matzoh. Volunteer Lilya Shashkina told the guests about each of the items. It was she who said a blessing over the candles. Then one of the clients said a blessing over wine and everybody drank the first of four prescribed glasses.

  Potatoes were plunged into salt water, and then the central matzoh was divided into two unequal parts. The bigger one was wrapped in a napkin and hidden (afikomen). All participants were watching Lilya attentively, trying not to miss any gesture. Those who were at the seder for the first time copied Lilya's actions, the others did everything by themselves. She kept telling about the peculiarities of the holiday and describing customs till the end of the seder.

  A competition "Who'll find afikomen?" was announced. Alexander Golbraicht found it behind a big beautiful vase and got a box of matzoh as a present.

  One of the Food program volunteers filled the cup of the Prophet Elijah and took a candle to open the door for him.

  The seder concluded with festive greetings. Pesach left a deep trace in souls of community members. He helped us to realize the importance of that day!

Olga Burshtein